Scrooged!

C. Is a comedic approach to the story as effective as the sentimental approach Dickens takes? Explain with details from the plot.


Every story can be told or explained in various ways; the essential plot of A Christmas Carol is no exception to the rule. Dickens uses a sentimental approach to depict the characteristics of people and places, while the writers of Scrooged, Mitch Glazer and Michael O’Donoghue, use comedic aspects to produce a more modern version of the same story. Society has changed since 1843, when A Christmas Carol was first published, so creating a universally understood tone makes the old story more comprehendible for people of all ages. The visitation of Jacob Marley is portrayed in a spookier manner than when Frank, or Lumpy, is visited by his old boss, Lou. Also, the Ghost of Christmas Past is vastly different in the movie, compared to its description in the book. In A Christmas Carol, the Ghost of Christmas Past is described to appear innocent, while Scrooged presents the spirit as dingy and disgusting. Despite the comedy in Scrooged, there are bits and pieces of sentimental value throughout the movie, to create a connection between it and the original plot of A Christmas Carol.